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4k Streaming and the hardware and cables needed


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Y'all despite some wanting to do a smart TV it is usually not nearly as effective as any modern streaming device, my three second generation 4k Amazon fire full size, or a Roku can be replaced on the cheap out of warranty if they fail instead of the whole TV. Our TV has all kinds of streaming apps etc, but it is so slow I can't stand it.. The Fire TV model before the hanging one they sell now was considered by many the best for both WiFi connecting and 4k:

https://www.engadget.com/2015/10/16/amazon-fire-tv-4k/

4K explained.

If you are into 4k you have to have a device like my Fire TVs (we have three on our three 4k TVs) to stream with that have both the hardware AND software for 4k. The newest Roku does now too. I went to the Fire after I got tired of using the onscreen keyboard to search. Fire has great voice controls and now Alexa too. We can control the Fire TV via the Alexa apps on our Echo Dots or Fire Tablets.

But you also need a TV that has the 4k hardware in at least one designated 4k HDMI input on the TV.

You can spend the money and do all that and think you can get by with a regular HDMI cable but you need a n HDMI 2.1 or the newly announced in November of 2017 Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Online the HDMI 2.1q cables aren't more than $8-$20 for a six foot to ten footer.

https://newatlas.com/hdmi-2-1-cable-spec/52393/

Local Dimming explained: https://www.cnet.com/news/led-local-dimming-explained/

I bought the top rated TV by AVforums for 2015 on Black Friday 2015, the Vizio, because it has a dedicated HDMI port for 4k and the software, but it also has a full array LED lighting system which means it is back lit, not edge lit only around the edges like many others are. That lets them do real local dimming. Every Vizio has full array back-lighting but the cheaper E and D-series have fewer local dimming zones, than the M and P, however, the number of local dimming zones is not great in their E and D-series TVs but better than most any in the same price range. But the M series has a perfect balance for me of price versus features. The P series is their top of the line. We had a Plasma, 60 incher Panasonic before this 65" M series 2015 Vizio. Our Vizio had a broken HDMI board and it would fail and then work and after changing cables I called them when I realized the connectors were loose enough to move with my hand. I called them and they sent a guy out a couple pf days, not weeks but a couple of days and he swapped out all the boards on our big granite island top. It was not on the wall yet but they said we would have to take it off the wall if it was wall mounted.

We love it two years later and even when new with a broken part, were amazed at their fast customer service on repairs. Any company can look good when all goes right. But their true colors come out with a warranty repair in both time and quality of local personnel they send.

So we avoid smart TVs because if the TV goes in for repair we lose the TV and the smart streaming. We still have our smart Blu-Ray player on the main system. But never use it. All the streaming devices should be 4k by now but I can only speak to the Roku we had and the Middle version of the Fire TV.

For folks in a brix n stix who came off the road to care for parents the streaming services are awesome today as well as the broadband to carry it. For us, it is only the Vizio M or even P series, and the streaming services are awesome as Netflix carried 4 k first and most, but the others do now too. We have had Netflix for almost 20 years since they were mailing DVDs and Blu-Ray.

Then we added Amazon Prime. Then we missed a few cable channels and got Sling TV Blue so we could stream more than one like the Sling Orange service. And we just activates a month free trial of Hulu to binge the first season of "The Handmaid's Tale" and we get HBO for $15 with it.

All of them can be watched on our phones, Fire HDX Tablets and new Fire tablets, our two Surface Pro tablets, and out desktops. We still watch together in the LR/home theater, and I use them most on my desktop as we have OTA local channels with a rooftop antenna and four way and to wall outlets that used to be cable. My desktop has a Hauppauge Win TV 950 attached so it can be on one fourth of my screen, FireFox browser is above it in one quarter, and Outlook 2010 is the right half of the screen. I can also use my other streaming services while I am online on any of the systems. Things have come a long way since the only TV we had Full-time RVing was OTA local back in 1997-2003.

There was no streaming as we mean it today, or smart phones until June 29th, 2007.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone_(1st_generation)

And Netflix through our Wii console in 2010.

https://www.cnet.com/news/netflix-streaming-finally-coming-to-the-wii/)

It seems like ages ago! And it is coming faster on faster wireless streams than ever.

In a couple of years we should have inexpensive Internet everywhere by an LEO satellite constellation. Two test mini sats were launched already for testing before deploying 5000-7000 satellites in a constellation that covers the globe, even the poor countries.

Amazing.

RV/Derek
http://www.rvroadie.com Email on the bottom of my website page.
Retired AF 1971-1998


When you see a worthy man, endeavor to emulate him. When you see an unworthy man, look inside yourself. - Confucius

 

“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.” ... Voltaire

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Finally got that pasted over!

RV/Derek
http://www.rvroadie.com Email on the bottom of my website page.
Retired AF 1971-1998


When you see a worthy man, endeavor to emulate him. When you see an unworthy man, look inside yourself. - Confucius

 

“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.” ... Voltaire

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For the Holidays i bought a 43" Roku TV 4K. by TCL. amazing picture for sure.  My biggest problem is that yr before i got a 65in Vizo 1080 HD. paid $1000. Sure do wish i waited cos that tv in 4k now cost about 800/$900. 

The TCL built in Roku an ability to add any apps to it. just unbeatable i think i paid something like $329. Got the Netflix an the Direct TV Now app. 60 channels for $35 @ Month. 

Living in Fla a sat dish not to good when we hit the rainy season. streaming is way to go.

2000 Itasca Horizon DP (Got Total During Irma). 

Vice President of Charlotte County Defenders LE MC

http://charlotte.defenderslemc.com/

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55" TCL 4K TVs with Roku are now $340, at least at Costco.  For an RVer, this one is better than Vizio since it still has coax connectors to get over the air when needed.  Yes, over the air is not 4K, but it is something.  Samsung and Vizio have taken the coax connection out.

2004 40' Newmar Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid, Fulltimer July 2003 to October 2018, Parttimer now.
Travels through much of 2013 - http://www.sacnoth.com - Bill, Diane and Evita (the cat)
 

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4 minutes ago, Barbaraok said:

Now where would we put a 55" in our motorhome? :o B)

On a table, dashboard or counter while sitting and on the bed while traveling or hang it from the ceiling so it folds up.   I am not doing any of these, I just notice the TVs when in Costco since a video crazy friend has a 55" 4K TCL and loves it and he paid almost $500 for it.

2004 40' Newmar Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid, Fulltimer July 2003 to October 2018, Parttimer now.
Travels through much of 2013 - http://www.sacnoth.com - Bill, Diane and Evita (the cat)
 

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Bill,

Correction. Vizio's M and P series all have removed the OTA tuners but all the D series do still have them and several of the D series ARE 4k models with ultra HDR and full array. Go here to see specs and tuner = yes: https://www.vizio.com/tvs/dseries/d43e2.html

Here is the overview: https://www.vizio.com/tvs/dseries/d43e2.html

42" 4k Ultra HDR in those links shows a price of $399.00 It also has the Vizio Apps plus which some like, but as I said I use my Amazon Fire TV 4ks on all ours. The Up-scaling engine really works on all but if the picture was out of focus or distorted/damaged on the original you get 4k up-scaled damage/distortion. Here is a your tube video with lots of other on this new D series the too:

Barb,

I was going to put a motorized or possibly damped manual ceiling mount in our last RV but we changed our minds as they were too expensive then. Actually RVs have the optimum distances for viewing:

"Firstly, if you already know the screen size for your room, then you can use this to calculate a good viewing distance.

For example, if you have a 40 inch screen, then your ideal viewing distance will be between 60 inches (1.5 x 40 inches) and 120 inches (3 x 40 inches) - or 5 to 10 feet.

The following table shows a range of common screen sizes and shows a suggested minimum and maximum viewing distance." That table is on this web page: https://www.the-home-cinema-guide.com/tv-viewing-distance.html

For a really inexpensive solution I'd use if I were full timing now is this fold down TV ceiling mount for $32.99: https://smile.amazon.com/InstallerParts-Aluminum-Ceiling-Folding-Retractable/dp/B01DEX4FGY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519864221&sr=8-1&keywords=Folding+aluminium+TV+ceiling+mount

In fact we are moving and I may do one in a house.

Here's an RVr who did the manual drop down in his motor home:

Here is a simple animation that shows how a fold down manual TV mount is perfect for RVs as they swivel too: Mechanical fold down TV mount for a 47" TV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdWpdL7nsPw

There are lots of other pics and products that would work in an RV on YouTube and Amazon. The interior wall we put our 70 pound Vizio M-65" TV on was a decorative wall with 3 foot center studs. I first glued and screwed a 2 foot by 4 foot 1/2 piece of real plywood (not particle board) to the wall because we were doing hidden wires and a fully adjustable in and out and angles up an down and to the side mount. So I didn't want to have it ripping out of the wall. The same would apply to the ceiling in an RV. Making sure I was in trusses I'd do the same in the ceiling behind a metal drop down mount and paint it like we did, or vinyl to match ceiling, so the weight is spread over several ceiling trusses. Like this but on a ceiling:

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m3zZPvb.pngClick For Full-Size Image.

 

RV/Derek
http://www.rvroadie.com Email on the bottom of my website page.
Retired AF 1971-1998


When you see a worthy man, endeavor to emulate him. When you see an unworthy man, look inside yourself. - Confucius

 

“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.” ... Voltaire

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